Luis Silva, D.C. United Power Past Colorado Rapids At RFK (VIDEO)

Aug 17, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United forward Luis Silva (11) scores a goal against Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin (1) in the second half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. DC United won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In one of the most exciting matches you will see in Major League Soccer, Ben Olsen’s D.C. United piled on the wins with a 4-2 victory over Pablo Mastroeni’s Colorado Rapids at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The victory ensures that D.C. United are still in the hunt for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. As for Colorado, their season is clearly in dire straits.

Each goal is one of the six things we learned so let’s take a look at that, followed by player ratings, for the match between D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids.

1. Silva opens up scoring in the first half

The first half only saw one goal to show for it, scored in the 12th minute by Luis Silva. A poor giveaway from Colorado’s Nick LaBrocca triggered the transition breakway for Taylor Kemp and Silva opening up a lead for D.C. United. Adding insult to deficit, Drew Moor twisted his ankle in trying to defend against Silva, whose bending shot easily escaped the reach of Clint Irwin. Midfielder Jared Watts would have to fill in for Moor.

2. Dillon Serna with the equalizer

On the flip side, the second half was a cacophony of goals. Let’s start with the equalizer from Dillon Serna, his third goal of the season. This is a candidate for Goal of the Week because it’s a first touch volley originating from the delivery from Jared Watts, that D.C. netminder Bill Hamid would not get his hands on. Sunday night was a rough night for the goalkeepers, and Hamid would have his share of ball-watching.

3. Brace from Silva makes it seven for Quick

Silva was back at it again in the 67th minute for his brace, and seventh goal of the season. Watts’s poor defending, combined with assists from Sean Franklin and Perry Kitchen, helped initiate a delivery to Silva, whose deft touch was enough to slot one past Irwin to make it 2-1 D.C. United, putting Colorado on the ropes. Alongside Watts, Marvell Wynne was part of the guilty party failing to mark Silva on this goal.

4. Another D.C. goal, from Chris Rolfe

The goals kept coming late in the second half, and veteran Chris Rolfe scored his fifth goal of the season off a long run from Taylor Kemp, whose pass on the left side found Rolfe for the clinical finish and a commanding 3-1 lead. The shot didn’t have a lot of pace, but it did have enough to elude Irwin in what was a howler at RFK.

5. Fabian Espindola returns to form

Of course, no one can forget about Fabian Espindola, whose eighth goal of the season is a team high as of right now. The give-and-go from David Estrada to Espi in the 86th minute was vintage D.C. at its finest. Espindola can shoot, and this goal is a reminder that D.C. United are back to contend for a fifth MLS Cup.

6. DeShorn Brown salvages pride for Colorado

On the other hand, Colorado Rapids forward DeShorn Brown added another goal to his tally in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Dillon Powers’s cross to Brown was almost ruled out, but Brown had enough english on the ball to make it a respectable 4-2 scoreline late.

Team Statistics

D.C. United in black, Colorado Rapids in red

D.C. United Player Ratings

Bill Hamid 6, Bobby Boswell 6, Sean Franklin 7, Steve Birnbaum 6, Taylor Kemp 8, Chris Rolfe 8, Davy Arnaud 6.5, Nick DeLeon 7, Perry Kitchen 7.5, Fabian Espindola 9, Luis Silva 10, Lewis Neal 4, David Estrada 6, Alex Caskey NR

Colorado Rapids Player Ratings

Clint Irwin 4, Chris Klute 3.5, Drew Moor NR, March Burch 4, Marvell Wynne 3, Dillon Serna 6, Jose Mari 4, Nick LaBrocca 3.5, Vicente Sanchez 3, Deshorn Brown 6, Dillon Powers 5, Jared Watts 4, Carlos ALvarez 3, Gabriel Torres 3